Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-17
Washington Gossip.

Irregular correspondence of the JournaD
WAsHrSGToN, ID. C,
Mar. ~, 1887. I
GENERAL" WILLIAM ANDREW JAcKso,
SPARKS
believe no appointment which the Presi
dent has ever made has resulted so disas
trously a, that of General" William Andrew
jackson Sparks, to be Commissioner of the
General Land Office His harsh and cruel
administration of the homestead laws has
deprived thousands of families Of their homes
in the territories and brought discourage
meut to tens Of thousands of honest men who
are trying by hard work and strict plane g
with the law to gain for themselves and their
families home upon government land. About
Is per cent of Sparks decisions have been
overruled upon appeal to Secretary Lamar.
But not every settler can appeal his case, for
It REQUIRES the services of an attorney. And.
besides so many cases have been appealed,
that the appeal docket in the Secretary's
office in land cases is many months behind.
A gentleman just from Wyoming an intelli-
gent physician. who was rather
friendly towards the Commissioner
because he had, for wonder,
decided case in bis favor, told me
yesterday that if "General' Sparks should
at the present time visit any of the Western
territories he would be mobbed and killed.
He said there would be absolutely no chance
of escaping death from the hands Of the poor
farmers whom he had ruined. also received
yesterday a letter from lawyer, who,
holding the position of general
manager of great corporation, has
spent the most of his time for years in travel
ing over the Territories, a gentleman of I'M
usual intelligence and good judgment. He
says Commissioner Sparks has cast blight
upon the entire Western territories, from
dence among the settlers is greatly impaired,
and thousands have lost their homes. The
happiest news for US would be to hear that he
had resigned or been superseded And yet
this man is said to possess the entire conf
dence Of the President.
THs PRESIDENTS Private SECRETARY.
Asevery one knows, "Dan" Lamont is the
power behind the throne, but not every one
knows how near ne comes to occupying the
throne itself There is one man especially
who is ignorant of the tremendous power
which this man wields, and that is-Mr.
Cleveland himself. Lamont has been with
his master so many years that he knews his
freaks and whims better than the President
himself and there is no doubt at all but what
the private secretary controls large share
Of the appointments. There are those
who believe that Colonel Lamont il
a silent partner in the political real estate
ring which has been in existence in this city
for year or more. A prominent democrat
said to me recently: "There'Il be an ex-
plosiou in the White House some of these
DAYS that will blow Dan Lamont Gear out of
sight" He is also very courteous and oblig-
ing to newspaper correspondents, but his
reputation for truth and veracity ia not good
on Newspaper Row. | was in the White
House yesterday when a caller inquired of
one of the newspaper men who happened to
be standing in the ante room SIS Col. La
mont inn" The reply was DO you refer to
Col. Anantas lamont"
JARS COMING TO Town.
General the Count X. Kuroda, Cabinet
Adviser to the japanese Emperor is in New
York. en- route to Washington. His official
position is one Of the most exalted in the
government He is on his return to his
native country after trip around the world.
Japanese army and navy officers and other
officials accompany the General
Nor EVEN WArCHMEN FOR FoRTIFICATIoNs
AND ORDNANCE WORKS.
Ose of the fruits of the failure of the for
tifica,ion bill is already seen in the fact that
the Notifications and ordnance works where
troops are not actually garrisoned, will be
left without even so much as Waterman to
protect the government property, because
thee will be no funds available for the pay
ment for su h services.
A PLEASANT CHANGE.
A great change is impending in this local..
~. The air is full of it, Whispers concern
ing it may be heard almost everywhere, but
especially in the public parks, aud in the
sunny hooks which are so plentiful here. 1t
is not the result of Il scandal. nor a ''combi-
nation" Neither Congress nor the President
has been consulted in the matter. 1t is the
change from winter to spring, proclaimed by
the swelling buds, the green grass, the red
blossoms on the naples. the house hunting of
the sparrows, and by many other familiar
signs. We have weeks of quite severe weather
here every winter, but a local botanist tells
ME that this is the first winter for some years
in which he has not been able each month to
ind some kind of an out-ofdoor blossom,
even though it be only that Of the tymploear-
pus, or 5raba ceYna.
Astontshing Success.
t. - Nho int IF xvho haa aoI